Improvement in air-ports for vessels



2 Sheets--Sheat 1, T. D. WILSON.

Air-Port for Vessels.

No. 222,111. Patented Nov. 25, 1879.

- MPETERS, PHOTQ-LITHCGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D c.

'2-Sheets--Sheet 2.

T, D. WILSON. Air-Port for Vessels. .No. 222,111.

Patented Nov. 25, 18 79.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE D. WILSON, OF UNITED STATES NAVY.

IMPROVEMENT IN AlR-PORTS'FOR VESSELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222, [11, dated November25, 1879; application filed October 9, 1879.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE D. WILSON, a naval constructor in the Navy of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air-Ports for Steamers and Sail ing-Vessels, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an airport with my improvements attached, the port shown open; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with the port closed. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through as m. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through y y.

My invention relates to that class of devices designed to admit air and light into the hulls of vessels; and it consists in the combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, A represents the section of the side of a vessel, and B the air-port made through the same. 0 is the circular frame-work secured thereto, and provided with two rubber packingrings, D D, to afl'ord additional security against leakage, as in case one ring becomes damaged there is the second ring to depend on. On each side of the frame-work O are'secured the ears E, to which are loosely pivoted the catch-pins F, provided with the nuts G for screwing up and securing the shutter in position when desired.

The catch-pins F are allowed to fall not below a horizontal position when at rest, and are raised by the cam-latches i on each side of the shutter when the shutter is raised for closing. After the latches pass the screwnuts the catch-pins drop into the notches in the latches and the port is closed. If desired, the nuts are then screwed up on the catch-pins, and the shutter is firmly secured in position.

In closing all air-ports at present in use the shutter strikes on the rubber packin g-rin g before it is entirely closed, and when screwed up it brings an uneven leverage on the rubber packing, throwing it partially out of the groove, and hardening and destroying its elasticity, causing the port to leak. One object'of my present invention is to overcome this difficulty.

The ear H of the port-shutter I is provided with an oval opening for the pin J, as is shown inFig. 3, and by this construction the shutter is allowed to lie square upon the face of the rubber packingrings before it is screwed up, the bearing being equal upon all parts of the rings, and when the shutter is screwed up vwith a port-wrench the port-shutter is equally forced on all points of the rubber packingrings, and with the same bearing-an improvementwhich will be readily appreciated by those accustomed to the handling of vessels at sea.

My port I propose to close by means of a small lanyard made fast to the eye K and no damage can result, as the bumper N would catch and break the force of the fall.

Along the lower inside edge of the port I construct the lip 0, provided with a suitable drain, P, for the purpose of catching and leading off any water which may accidentally enter the port.

My improved ports can be put anywhere fore and aft a vessels length, as from the manner of dropping down the shutter, instead of swinging it fore or aft, the vessel is not cut away.

I am aware that ports hinged at the bottom are not new; nor is it new to slot the hinges.

These I do not claim as my invention.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The air-port constructed as described, in combination with the bumper N and lip 0, provided with the pipe P, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

THEODORE D. WILSON.

Witnesses:

DAVID B. MAGOMB, J OHN IENDER. 

